but officials there say they saw a surge in donations after last week's debate. and raked it in 12 million dollars in less than 48 hours. today in part st. louisie florida president obama brought up the president's uneven debate performance. >> days later we're hearing his excuses. and next january we will be watching him leave the white house for the last time. >> reporter: nearly a week later, talk of the debate still dominated the sunday round table. obama senior advisor david axelrod defended the president on "face the nation". >> i think he was a little taken aback at the braz enness with which governor romney walked away from so many of the positions on which he's run. >> reporter: with just nine days until the two men debate again, this time in hempstead, new york, both campaigns are hoping solid performances will woo voters and donors alike. but while the romney campaign deals with heightened expectation, obama advisors are still not saying what, if anything, the president will do differently this time around. >> i think you can assume that he's reviewed